708-422-1900 Most people have a habit of brushing their teeth at least twice a day, which is awesome. But any habit, no matter how good, can easily become a thoughtless routine. And while any tooth brushing you do is beneficial, the better you do, the better your oral health. Here are some suggestions to help put new life into how you brush.
The first one is to simply start differently. Most people tend to start in the same place in their mouth. This helps ingrain a habit in muscle memory, which lets your brain kind of tune out. Over time, it gets easier to cut corners and just get lazy. By starting in a new place, you are helping yourself stay engaged.
You can also work on refining your technique. Lots of people use hard, fast strokes that can miss a lot of surface area and damage gums. Instead, try holding your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your gums and move in smoother, gentler motions. You don’t need to excoriate your teeth to remove plaque.
Finally, many people don’t brush as long as they need to, even though they often think they do. It is recommended to brush 2 minutes every time, but lots of people barely manage half. 2 minutes can seem like a long time, especially for children, but it allows for you to be as thorough as you need to be.
Effective brushing is an integral part of effective oral hygiene. To learn more about keeping your mouth clean or to schedule an appointment with Drs. Chris Pallotto, please call Oak Dental Associates today. We are eager to meet you and get to work on a great smile.